Improved chair



PATENT OEEIoE.

V. P. PARKHURST, OF TEMPLETON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVED CHAIR.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 54,762, dated May 15,1866.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Beit known th at LV. P. PARKHURST, of Templeton, in the county ofWorcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Chairs; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable othersskilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

VThe present invention consists in so attaching or hanging the backs ofchairs and other similar seats to the posts or other correspondingsupports therefor that the said chair-back will adjust itself to theperson sitting in the chair, supporting both the shoulders and lowerpart of the back, whatever position the sitter may assume, and also sohanging the said back that when the person rises from the chair the backwill resume its original and normal or vertical position between theposts-or supports without the aid of springs or any other additionaldevices.

In accompanying plate of drawings my improvements in chairs areillustrated, Figure l being an elevation of the rear or back side ot'the chair; Fig. 2, a central vertical section taken in the plane of theline fr, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

A in the drawings represents a chair which, except so far as myinvention extends, can be made of any of the usual forms, styles, andfinish; B, its seat; and C C, the two upright posts between which thechair-back D is hun g, so as to secure the results hereinbetbre stated,as will be now particularly explained.

To the rear side of the back D of the chair, at or near its top and uponeach side thereof, by means of screws, or in any other proper manner, issecured a 'similar plate, E, which plate is to be of such aform as tonicely fit the chair-back at the point of its application, and each ofsaid plates has formed upon or attached to it a projecting pivot or arm,a, having its outer end made with a square head, b. On the top or upperend of each post C of the chair is fitted a ferrule, F, over whichferrule is a cap piece, Gr, of the post G. In each of these ferrules andcap -pieces F and G is a correspondingshaped vertical slot, c, throughand in which the pivots of the back plates, E, turn, as plainly shown inFig. 1,`the heads of the said pivots preventing them from becomingdisengaged from the chair-posts when the caps G have been set over thepost-ferrules and there secured by a screw, f, or in any other propermanner, the screw j' coming to a bearing byits head against thepost-caps, and serving as it screws into the post to tightly bind theferrules thereon, which ferrules at the same time obviate allpossibility of the vposts being split by the screws. Y By this means ofhanging the back of the chair in and between its posts it is obviousthat when desired to remove the back it can be easily and readily done,and a new one inserted or any repairs made which may be necessary.

. gis a pin fixed in each back post of the chair, a short distance aboveits seat, which pins limit the play of the back of the chair and preventit from swinging through the posts.

By hanging the back ofthe chair by means of pivots upon its rear sideand at or near its top it is obvious that the chair-back will swingforward atits upper portion, and thus, by means of the stops g for itslower end, or any other equivalentmeans which limits its play, it willbe held in an upright position, whereas if the chair -back was hung,say, for instalice, at a point, l, of the posts, the back would standout at a vertical angle to the posts when not occupied.

It is almost needless for me here to state (as with the abovedescription and by an inspection of the drawings it is plainly apparent) that by my improved hanging of a chair-back the back will alwaysadapt itself to whatever position the person sitting in the chair :mayassume, provided, however, he is in contact with the back, and thussupport the shoulders and the lower portion of the back of the person,the importance and advantages of which for ease and comfort are obvious.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Paterlt- 'Ihe combination of the plates E, pivots a, ferrulesF, caps G, and pins g, arranged relatively with the back D and posts Cof the chair A and operating in the manner and for the purpose hereinspecified.

The above specification of my invention signed by me.

V. P. -PARKHURSL Witnesses D. J. WHITE, F. PARKER.

